El Dorado, AR vs Hot Springs, AR

El Dorado is moderately more affordable than Hot Springs, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. El Dorado scores 66 compared to 70 for Hot Springs, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hot Springs can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in El Dorado is $845/month compared to $902/month in Hot Springs — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: El Dorado is more affordable at $113,100 median vs $156,900.

Median household income in El Dorado is $45,159 compared to $46,441 in Hot Springs (-2.8%). Hot Springs does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of El Dorado spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Hot Springs.